Conservation & Sustainable Production of Vanilla in Costa Rica Charlotte Watteyn, PhD student KU Leuven Promotor: Prof. Dr. Ir. Bart Muys Copromotors: Dr. Ir. Bert Reubens Prof. Amelia Paniagua Vasquez Prof. Dr. Adam Karremans Flower Vanilla trigonocarpa The Spice “Vanilla” • Orchidaceae • Vanilloideae • Vanilla (genus) Non-aromatic species Aromatic species (Xanata) Vanilla inodora Vanilla hartii Vanilla odorata Vanilla hartii Vanilla trigonocarpa Genus Vanilla Plum. ex Mill. - +/- 120 species - Pantropic genus - BUT aromatic species (Xanata): Neotropics - 33 aromatic species known so far - Still to be discovered Vanilla species in Costa Rica Vanilla costa rica Fragrant Vanilla dressleri Fragrant Vanilla hartii Fragrant Vanilla helleri ? Vanilla inodora Non-fragrant Vanilla insignis ? Vanilla karen-christianae (2018) Fragrant Vanilla odorata Fragrant Vanilla phaeantha Fragrant Vanilla pompona Fragrant Vanilla planifolia Fragrant Vanilla sarapiquensis ? Vanilla sotoarenasi (2017) Fragrant Vanilla trigonocarpa Fragrant CURRENT SITUATION PROJECT GOAL Wild aromatic species Introduced species (V. planifolia) (CWR) Hybrid (V. tahitensis) Indirect supply chain with intermediaires Direct supply chain between farmer and consumer CURRENT SITUATION PROJECT GOAL Wild aromatic species Introduced species (V. planifolia) (CWR) Hybrid (V. tahitensis) Indirect supply chain with intermediaires Direct supply chain between farmer and consumer Study Area Southwest Costa Rica Area de Conservación Osa (ACCOSA) Unsustainable Agriculture & Illegal Logging monocultures • Palm oil • Pineapple • Rice • Banana cattle grazing high-value timber Joint Land Sparing / Land Sharing Natural Pollination 4 Stages (1) Species Distribution modelling of Vanilla CWR (2) Natural pollination of Vanilla CWR (3) Cultivation potential of CWR (4) Interest of local communities in sustainable vanilla production - Cultivation Potential of Vanilla CWR within AFS - Goal To define production success of native vanilla, by measuring variables of survival, growth, production, and quality of vanilla within two agroforestry systems (reforestation area and organic cacao plantation) at different distances from forests with natural populations, and natural pollination success by comparing different pollination treatments (hand pollination, animal pollination, mix of both). Methodology Secondary forests Cacao plantations Vanilla trigonocarpa Vanilla odorata Vanilla pompona Vanilla planifolia Vanilla hartii Vanilla costa rica Methodology • Variables to be measured • Plant vitality and Plant growth • Sstart: November 2019 • Yield and Quality of the vanilla pods • Start: first flowering season (after +/- 2 years) • Different pollination technique (manual versus natural) Plant Vitality Plant Growth Yield Quality Foliation density Relative growth rate for # buds / plant Chemical analysis (score protocol) plant height (Verstegen) Foliation coloration Relative growth rate for # flowers / plant Organoleptic analysis (score protocol) stem diameter (Verstegen) Presence of Leaf area Kg green beans / plant Genetic analysis diseases/herbivory Kg dry beans / plant (cross-pollination) Interest of Local Communities & Market Interviews with +/- 200 farmers in study region Thank you very much! Questions?.